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Winxp Pro Start Up

Have a Compaq laptop running WinXp Pro. Computer won’t boot - get error message that “\windows\system32\config\system” is missing. I do not have a WinXp Pro disc as the OS was in the machine and Compaq doesn’t supply the windows operating system disc. I have been trying to figure a way to create a boot disc from another machine, but so far haven’t been successful. I have downloaded a couple of files that were described as being able to boot the system, but they don’t work either. I have only a CD-ROM drive to work with, no floppy. Can anybody suggest something?

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Disconnect all peripheral devices from the computer - the speakers, the wireless PCI card, the printer, any other external device you have added, and physically disconnect the computer from its internet connection.

When you first boot the system look at the bottom of the screen to see if there are instructions to enter Compaq's recovery utility - there should be if it came with neither a Windows Disk or a Restore Disk from Compaq.

It is probably the F10 key, although that may vary.

From Compaq support:
Just after the first screen appears (the logo screen), press the F10 key repeatedly until a recovery menu appears.

Select one of the following procedures, depending on which recovery type you want to perform:

To perform a standard system recovery, click Next, and then click Yes.
(Try this first as it will not reformat the drive and you will keep your data and programs)

To perform a destructive recovery, click Advanced, (select Destructive Recovery) and then click Next.
CAUTION: A destructive recovery will format the hard drive. This will delete all the information on the hard drive and reinstall Windows XP and the original software that came with the computer.

Read and respond to each window and screen that appears.

After the System Recovery is complete, the PC restarts and continues into Windows setup. Complete the setup screens and wait until the computer finishes the setup.
NOTE: It may take a long time to complete Windows setup. This time varies and may take over several hours, depending on the amount of files that were stored in the user account folders (for example, My Documents and the Desktop).

After the recovery is complete reinstall all Windows Updates, your antivirus program and any program you installed since the computer was new.

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What choices do you get on the system utility menu? There may be something there that can be used.

According to Compaq support the computer should have come with a Recovery CD.

You will need that to reinstall the operating system back to factory conditions.

If you can't find it, you will have to contact Compaq (HP) support and order either the proper recovery cd or a Windows installation cd. (or both if you can get them) They will charge for this, but far less than if you had to buy a new retail Version of Windows.

If the Windows 25digit Key is not on a sticker on the case or you do not know it, find out from support what it is - you may need it to validate Windows with Microsoft after the reinstall.

I found the system CD - it was still in the box. I can get to the Windows setup screen, which gives two choices. Either setup XP, or repair. I tried repair, but I don't know how to reconfigure for config.sys, which is what appears to be missing (or corrupt). If I choose XP setup, the setup program indicates that there is already an operating system in place, and recommends against installing another OS on the same partition. Obviously, the original OS is there, just missing config.sys (apparently). Seems that repair is the only option using this setup CD, but I'm lost. Can anybody help?

What i would suggest would be to go to http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545 and follow the instructions on the page to recover from a corrupted registry. That is almost the only thing that that message can mean on boot. Make sure that instructions are followed carefully. Post back if there are any questions. Remember that this is done from booting to the cd and using Recovery Console.